Chapter Text
It is late evening. A clear night with a full moon.
Elsewhere in Tokyo, it might also be a quiet night, but not here. Because no matter how silently Kaitou Kid glides along the streets between the houses, there are still the dozen police cars following him loudly with sirens and blue lights.
Well, trying to follow him.
Kid glances over his shoulder.
No police cars behind him on the street. The fact that the police can always be heard so well is an advantage not to be sneezed at: you always know how close the cars are. Kid estimates that they are about two streets away – no, three now. Are they driving in the wrong direction? Well, it serves him right. Enough time to change his disguise now.
Only ten meters separate Kid from the ground. In about thirty meters, he sees a side alley that leads to a very busy square, even at night. There, he will be able to disappear into the crowd. The sidewalk gets closer and closer and Kid gets ready to land: three, two, one..…
In one fluid motion, he folds up his glider and walks right on. A smile plays across Kid's face. Everything is going like clockwork.
During the last few meters to the alley, he takes another look over his shoulder. The police are still nowhere to be seen. Good.
Kid turns into the alley while running. Now just a quick costume change and -
Oh, great.
"I was wondering where you got to, great detective." With a sovereign smile, he confronts his only real rival. "How did you know I was going to drop by here?"
The little critic grins. "I thought you'd learned since Ryoma. I'd check my ankles if I were you."
Kid bends down, and indeed: a little bug. He'll have to pay more attention next time.
He plucks it off, and tosses it away.
"Thank you." Kid taps his top hat briefly. "I guess I’ll take my leave then."
"I doubt that." the detective contradicts him, pointing his annoying watch at him. "I'm not letting you through. And if you run, I'll hit you from behind."
His tactics aren't getting any newer, either, Kid quips. He reall -
Shit.
An ice-cold shock races through Kid's body. His poker face almost breaks.
Why are there laser pointers on the great detective’s shoulder?! From where, from whom? - Snake? - No. - Or yes? - From where?! Why here, why the great detective?! Please, don’t -
Stop. Poker face. Pull yourself together. Think.
Looking around for the shooters or fleeing is out. A dark hunch tells Kid this would be fatal. For both of them.
"Don't tell me you weren't prepared for this?" the detective asks him, unaware of the danger.
No, sorry, Kid thinks sourly, but neither were you. Well, better for him. But what the -
A low hiss and crackle shatters the silence. One that is very familiar to Kid.
He takes two steps back and looks to his right. Almost immediately, he spots the clunky, black walkie-talkie lying on the small windowsill. A sinking feeling makes its way into Kid's stomach.
"Excuse me, my friend, but I have to take this."
Very suspicious looks follow, but the detective keeps his feet still.
Good. Inhale, exhale. With a firm grip, Kid takes the walkie-talkie.
"Hello Kaitou Kid!" a familiar voice laughs.
Snake. Of course. Kid suppresses the rising mixture of anger and worry inside him. Poker face, he reminds himself. Poker face. The little critic mustn't notice anything. Snake mustn't shoot. Kill. The laser pointers are gone, but only apparently.
"You don't want to say anything, I get that." remarks Snake patronizingly, "Then I will. You noticed our shooters?"
Very funny, how is he supposed to respond to that? Snake had never been the brightest candle o -
"You might as well just nod, we've got our eyes on you. But I'll guess yes, you're not blind after all. I will only give you this warning once, so listen carefully."
In a direct confrontation, Snake gets the short end of the stick, so now this guy is hiding. Dammn coward.
"As soon as you or the little brat move more than two steps away, you're dead. Is that clear?" Snake laughs. "You don't want him to die, do you?"
Hell, no! Dammn murderers... Crap, poker face!
Kid eyes the little detective. He doesn't notice anything, keeps glaring at Kid and writing to some people. Probably to the police. Thanks a lot.
If the detective knew how much danger he was in, then maybe they could still escape together. But like this...? Kid plays through all possible options at lightning speed. In vain. At least one of them would die here. He's actually trapped in this alley.
"That little brat helped us a lot. He was so busy with your bug that he didn't even notice ours on him. So we were able to prepare for you here." Snake laughs. He really seems to have him in his sights. Sure enough, he's standing behind one of the alley's dark windows. "Before the police come right now, I’ll tell you how this will play out. Toichi."
The name comes with such a striking surprise, it throws him off, for a moment.
Poker face! Poker face. Keep a cool head.
"You have a son. Nice neighbors. A cop and his daughter. This detective-brat here, you like to flirt with. If you value these people's lives, you'll do as we say, so listen carefully."
A short pause. In the sudden silence, Kaito's thoughts are all the louder.
This is bad. Really bad. They're blackmailing him with Aoko. With -
"You brought this on yourself," Snake comments.
Kaito needs all his strength to keep his expressionless face. It almost tears him apart.
"We warned you, but you had to go on with your heists. And if your own life isn't precious enough for you to stop, it has to be the lives of others. You have disturbed us so often and so penetratingly that a simple death is too merciful for you. No, Kid, first you're going to be caught... Right now, by the police."
Kaito feels like he's been kicked too hard in the stomach. While the ground is pulled out from under him. Poker face…
"To everyone, it'll look like the brat trapped you. And if you try to escape out of prison we'll make your friends pay for it. So don't even think about telling the police anything. Before any of the cops can even say 'personal security', there will already be blood on your hands. So don't. But we’re not inhumane. We will release you from these sufferings after some time. One of us, not us." says Snake with an ironic, comforting undertone. "So you'll just have to endure your own personal hell for a few days."
Snake waits. But there’s just silence in Kaito's mind. Absolute silence. Then a steady 'no' breaks through.
No. No! He must not be caught! Must not fail! He was going to surpass his - his father, what would he - bitterly disappointed - like Aoko - like his mother - like Aoko - like Aoko - like the inspector - No! He must get out of here. They mustn't find out! - But - Nothing must happen to them either! Snake must not let them -
Eight-year-old memories rise in Kaito, burning and painful. No! Poker face! Cool head! Poker face. Poker face. Poker face…
Is there no other way to turn the tide? Any other way? There has to be!
Get arrested, and then cooperate with the police? He’s sure the police would keep quiet. But... What had Snake said? They would come to kill him after a few days. Kill him. Kill him. Like his fath -
Stop. Conclusion: Snake acts unusually skillful and covert. So killing will also be like that. And the best way to do that is with a member in the police.
Kaito leaves hope. He would put himself in danger - but not anybody else. The risk is too big.
The bitter realization washes over him like a wave: He is beaten. Kaitou Kid will get caught.
With an expressionless face, Kid throws his pistol on the ground in front of him.
"Good decision, Kaitou Kid. Wait for the police and for death. If you play along, we promise not to hurt any of your loved ones." Snake is silent for a moment, then adds in an almost parting tone: "Of all our opponents, you were by far the most tenacious. Even though, of course, you never stood a chance against us. When the police will take you away in a few minutes, you’re allowed to leave the alley, but only then. So, happy dying." A short crack. Then, silence.
Kid still holds the walkie-talkie to his ear. The detective watches him with full attention. In the distance, steady, approaching sirens can be heard. Three minutes of reprieve, Kid estimates.
He is about to turn his attention to the great detective, when it strikes him: Snake has explicitly spoken of one man! One single man!
A small, grim glimmer of hope awakens in Kaito. Yes, he will be caught. Kid will remain silent, playing the bitter game until that man comes to kill him. And then Kid will turn the tide. He will fight. Yes, when this man comes, Kid will be prepared. Those killers will see that they underestimated him. Snake gave him one information too much. Whoever causes Kaitou Kid to stumble, he'll take down with him. They will wish they had never messed with him.
Kid puts the walkie-talkie back on the windowsill.
With his typical thin smile, he turns to the detective. Said one focuses on him suspiciously with his watch. No wonder: Kid has just thrown his gun at his feet.
"What's this gonna be now?"
"A thief knows when to give up.“ Kid takes a short bow. „Congratulations, great detective. Looks like our little duels are now coming to an end."
The detective looks as if Kid has lost his mind. "You've got to be kidding me. You were counting on us meeting, of course you figured out a way to escape! Oh come on, two."
Three. The detective is dangerously fit in the head, as usual. Deadly fit. "One, yes. But an unforeseen delay just wiped that one out." Kid nods towards the walkie-talkie. "My assistant just called."
"And your alternatives?"
"You stand in their way."
The detective still has his doubts. "What about your smoke bombs? This rope shooting pistol? Throw a smoke bomb and pull yourself up to the roof."
"Whose side are you on, great detective? Are you really giving me escape tips?" laughs Kid, but the detective doesn't join in the laughter. By now, the sirens are as loud as if he was standing next to them.
"On the side of the truth. And there's something fishy here." The great detective gives him a sharp look.
These two sentences unintentionally make Kid smile for a moment. A real smile. He disguises it as a meaningless one.
The little critic is lucky that the sirens and screeching tires are so loud. If Snake could have heard those two sentences.… The detective really stumbles from one danger to another.
"Kaitou Kid, you're surrounded! Escape is pointless!" resounds Nakamori's voice throughout the alley, and surely three streets further. At least one dozen policemen appear at each end of the alley.
Slowly, Kid turns away from the great detective and toward the inspector. If he's going to be caught, he's going to be caught in style. And the final exchange of blows must be savoured. "Ah, there you are, Nakamori! We've been waiting for you."
The inspector has confusion written all over his face, but doesn't let it faze him. "Get him, men!" he shouts.
Immediately, all the policemen rush towards Kid. The great detective quickly jumps into safe cover, and a few moments later Kid is surrounded.
Nakamori fights his way into their midst. "Ha! Now, we've got you, Kaitou Kid." A pair of handcuffs clicks. For a moment, there is stunned silence. "We finally got him!" shouts Nakamori then, and the cops enthusiastically blare along.
Kid keeps his poker face, but underneath it begins to rage inside him. It’s inevitable, but Kaito doesn’t want to be unmasked, he doesn't want to go to jail.... Because he’s not fooling himself: Even if his loose plan works out, he'll still go to jail anyway. For sure. The worst thing is that even now he could still escape. Easily.
"Quick! Search him!" Nakamori orders, quick-witted, "Or he’ll try to get away!!"
Kid suppresses an eye roll.